Idle Hands ~ Chapter 8
On top of all the angst within the family Ben was due to have his 50th birthday. They couldn't not have a party for him though most weren't looking forward to it.
Joe finally managed to extract from Annie what had been bothering her the last couple of days. She hadn't told him anything about it, thinking that he wouldn't believe her when she said she didn't spread that rumour. She had been withdrawn and anxious looking but on the eve of the party she had finally broken down and told him everything. Joe took her on to his lap and told her he would not have anyone giving her grief and of course he believed her when she said that she didn't spread it. He kissed away her tears and reassured her that everything would be alright. In his heart though, Joe was disturbed by this turn of events. He held no kind feelings for Adam these days and as for Sam upsetting his girl like that. Joe frowned to himself.
~o~
Adam and Sam were still not on good terms, they had tried to communicate several times but the tension between them just seemed to escalate. Adam took a room in town being how he couldn't stay at a shack forever. He stood at the mirror fixing his tie, a job Sam would usually do for him, among other things. He frowned to himself
~o~
The ranch house was made beautiful with coloured lanterns and large bunting declaring 'happy birthday Ben' in gold leaf writing. Ben refused to have his age plastered up there. Hoss put himself in charge of getting everything ready and he was clashing with Hop Sing who felt he didn't need son number 2 telling him how to cook sausage rolls or barbecue beef.
An unexpected heatwave had decided things and the party was moved outside. All was more or less ready and Hoss went to collect Angela. He couldn't wait to show her off. Not only was she fun to talk to and to be with but she was also elegant and refined and knew how to dress for occasion. Yes Hoss felt himself a lucky man
~o~
Angela was indeed a picture in a sky blue silk frock and navy fur lined cloak. Her hair was done up in ringlets and tiny pearls with little perfect curls framing her doll like face. Every head turned as Hoss brought her to mingle among the guests. Hob Sing brought out platter after platter of fine foods, chicken wings, barbecued spare ribs, roast beef, ham and several bowls of delicious salads, Ben made a large bowl of his extra potent rum punch and soon everyone was merry on the sweet beverage.
~o~
Annie stayed at Joes side after she bid good tidings to Ben. She knew Sam would not be present but it didn't make her any easier in herself. Adam spoke with Hoss and Angela keeping distance between himself and Joe. He wasn't all that happy with Joes wife Annie and he didn't want to get into it with them. Joe was nervous enough too. If Adam confronted Annie, he would have to intervene and he was gearing up for that. Unfortunately he took the unwise route of drinking glasses of potent rum punch, He knew rightly that intoxication would make this day go in quicker.
~o~
Ben thankfully was oblivious to the tension within his family, either that or more likely he was good at putting up a show. Once everyone had drinks he called for the music to begin and led the Widow Perkins to the make shift dance floor. Soon everyone was dancing and the party was in full swing. Sheriff Coffee stood by Adam talking about the high temperature and how it could cause another water shortage.
Annie suddenly passed them seeking to go into the shade of the porch. Sheriff Coffee caught her hand.
"Well little lady, why are you not dancing," he asked her.
She smiled at him, not daring to look at Adam.
"Joe is over talking to the ranch hands, he'll be finished in a minute," she told him, blushing shyly.
"Well here is a reputable stand in, right Adam?" The Sherif smiled.
"No em, I'm tired right now," she said rather awkwardly.
"I'd be happy to dance with you Annie," Adam smiled gallantly,
"Thank you Adam, I...I just,"
Annie fled from them, hurrying into the house. Joe turned from his friends and saw it all from a distance. He stormed over.
"What did you say to her," he snapped.
"Joe I didn't say anything to her, keep your voice down," Adam told him.
It sounded like a reprimand from his older brother and the four glasses of rum punch Joe consumed didn't help matters. Without thinking he reached back and smacked Adam full in the face sending him over one of the tables, salad and meat dishes scattered everywhere.
"You stay away from her and tell your wife to do the same," Joe bellowed at him.
The mention of his wife got Adams ire up and he lunged for his brother sending him flying backwards. The two punched and smacked each other, their anger rendering them oblivious to anyone else. Women screamed as they hurried out of the way. Several ranch hands went to pick Adam up and restrain him, Hoss held little Joe by the scruff of the neck.
~o~
Bens dark eyes smouldered in anger.
His two sons stood before him, Joes new shirt, torn and dirty, Adam with a bruised jaw and an angry gash just above his left eye.
"I spend my whole life telling people how proud I am of my boys, how I can always count on them to do the right thing and then this, brawling on the floor like a couple of teenagers. If you were younger you wouldn't sit comfortably for a month, either of you."
"Who threw the first punch," he asked.
"I did sir," Joe spoke quietly, a dark bruise beginning to form under his left eye.
"Did I need to ask Joseph" Ben snapped bitterly.
"Can I ever expect you to keep it in check and solve it with words, can I?" Ben roared
Joe lowered his head in shame.
"And as for you," Ben eyed his eldest son with not too friendly a gaze.
"I will speak with you outside Adam,"
"Come on Pa..."
"Don't argue with me young man, outside now." Ben told him.
Ben left his desk and headed for the door, Adam following behind.
Hoss grimaced, "he ain't gonna tan him is he?"
"Shut up Hoss," Joe told him.
~o~
"Pa, I'm sorry," Adam told him as they stared down at the horses grazing in the back field.
"Adam when are you going to see sense," Ben asked.
Adam bristled under his fathers criticism.
"Pa I'm sorry. Joe just has a way..."
"I'm not talking about Joe or that scene at the party, I'm talking about you and Sam."
"Pa, you don't know the whole story," Adam told him as he kicked at some stones on the ground.
"Yes I do know the whole story. I may be getting older Adam but I'm not blind or deaf," Ben told him.
"She made a mistake, she spoke out of turn. When are you going to stop punishing her Adam?"
"It was quite a mistake Pa."
Ben was getting annoyed again.
"Oh get over it Adam. Enjoy a couple of months alone in your bed and see how much of a mistake it was. Or just come to your senses now and stop being so damn stubborn.
I'm not saying you're wrong to be angry but don't turn a bad moment into a catastrophe. Because take it from me Adam, we, none of us know how long we'll have with loved ones. You don't know the day or the hour..."
"Pa come on..." Adam well knew Bens feelings on such things.
"Don't interrupt!. Samantha is the best thing that's ever happened to you. All your life you have been stubborn Adam especially when you feel you're in the right, and that's ok, that's who you are but you can't afford to stand on principle when it comes to women. Sam's very beautiful. It will be no problem at all for her to find someone else. So think on.
I want you to make it up with her, and soon Adam" Ben told him.
Ben moved off towards the house then.
Adam smiled as he watched his father go.
Gone be the days when life was so easy that Ben could command him to do something and it would be done, and everything would be fixed. But inwardly he thanked his Pa for thinking it could be.
~o~
Adam's eyes narrowed as he spotted a horseman a little ways down the field. Or horse woman as he was soon to find.
Sam tried to gallop off but she hadn't noticed his approach in time and her horse would not respond quick enough once he saw Adam.
"What are you doing out riding at this hour of the night," he asked her.
"Janet and Ronnie are with Kirby. I was alone in the house, I needed air. I often used to ride out at night when I was younger, it's peaceful."
"It's dangerous." Adam told her sternly. "I don't want you riding on your own at night. Get down from that horse."
She did as he asked and they walked together towards the house.
"I have some very good memories of this place. When I was a ranch hand here I felt loved and protected by you all. When I feel lonely I just seem to end up in these fields" She said all this not meeting his eye.
By the light of the full moon Adam could see tears glistening in her eyes as her sad face stared out into the distance.
He stopped their progress for a minute.
He turned her to him and hugged her close as she cried silently.
"Sam, I'm sorry," he told her, stroking her hair.
"I was an idiot."
"Oh Adam, I'll never truly forgive myself for what happened."
"No Sam, do ye know what, it's all nonsense. Who cares what people think. I mean you may as well not get up in the morning if you're going to worry about gossip in Virginia city."
"Adam I missed you so much,"
"I'm sorry sweetheart, I missed you too."
He took her face in his hands and kissed her. He had meant it to be a tender and comforting kiss but it had been so long. He couldn't help it, before long his mouth was taking hers with hungry desire.
"Oh Adam." She whispered.
"Shhh, " he told her as he took her by the hand and led her towards the barn.
Within the concealment of the hay loft he kissed her again. His kiss was deep and demanding and she reached up and put her arms about his neck stroking the fine curls there as she kissed him back with as much force.
He swept a trail of kisses down her neck as his hand came up to cradle her breast.
She pulled away suddenly.
"Adam," she said breathlessly "this is your fathers house, we're in the hay loft, this is so wrong and shameful."
"If you want me to stop, I have to tell you, you're saying all the wrong things," he grinned, kissing her again. And nibbling her neck
She let loose a dirty giggle then as she allowed herself to be pulled down into the hay.
~o~
Adam and Sam entered the house about an hour later, trying hard not to look like they just had the best make up sex ever.
"Samantha," Ben took both her hands in his and kissed her cheek. "Where did you come from."
"I was riding sir," she said, and immediately blushed scarlet.
Adam moved away suppressing a sudden cough, she could see his shoulders shaking as he headed into the kitchen, Hop Sing asking what he was laughing at.